Balance July 2017

JULY 2017

In This Issue Motorcycle Safety Motorcycle Safety Cont.

Beach Safety Beach Safety Cont.

Health Promotion Calendar USNH Yokosuka Events Tobacco Cessation Health Promotion Services Meet the Staff

2

Motorcycle Safety

By: Mary Cobb Health Promotion - USNH Yokosuka Reference: Military One Source (n.d.). 6 Tips For Staying Safe On Your Motorcycle. Retrieved from http://www.militaryonesource.mil/health-and-wellness/prevention-care?content_id=282332

Motorcycles can be thrilling to ride, but operating a motorcycle safely requires skill, practice and awareness. If you have a motorcycle or are thinking about buying one, it's essential to learn to operate it safely. Here are six tips to help you do just that.

Take a motorcycle safety course. Department of Defense regulations require you to complete a motorcycle safety course before you can register or operate your bike, on or off your installation. Check with your installation’s safety office about Motorcycle Safety Foundation basic safety courses offered at your location. Ask your insurance company about any discounts you may qualify for when you successfully complete the course.

Use protective gear. When riding a motorcycle, only your protective gear separates you from the open road – literally speaking. The right clothing and gear protects you from the elements and flying debris, while offering some protection in the event of a crash. The DoD Installation Management Agency has established minimum criteria for protective gear, but individual installations may add requirements. Check with your installation’s safety office for more information. The minimum safety gear requirements include the following: 

Helmet – meeting federal impact standards and fitting properly



Protective eyewear – shatter-proof, scratch-free goggles; if your helmet does not have a full face shield



Protective clothing – long sleeves and long pants along with a thick jacket; preferably leather, with zippered sidevents



Gloves – thick and full-fingered; made for motorcycle use



Sturdy footwear – leather shoes or boots that cover the ankles, with oil-resistant soles



Highly visible clothing – brightly colored for daytime riding and reflective at night; with reflective tape on the helmet, jacket and backs of the boots

2

3

Motorcycle Safety Cont.

By: Mary Cobb Health Promotion - USNH Yokosuka Reference: Military One Source (n.d.). 6 Tips For Staying Safe On Your Motorcycle. Retrieved from http://www.militaryonesource.mil/health-and-wellness/prevention-care?content_id=282332

Stay alert. In nearly two thirds of motorcycle accidents, where a second vehicle is involved, the other driver is at fault.

Be aware of your surroundings and drive defensively. 

Keep your eyes on the road ahead of you, checking your side and rear views frequently.



Expect the unexpected, and be prepared to react when it happens.



Use your horn, if necessary, to get the attention of other drivers.



Keep a safe distance by allowing at least a two-second lag time between your motorcycle and the car in front of you. Depending on your speed, you may want to allow more space.



Don’t ride if you’ve been drinking or are too tired to stay alert.

Be prepared for bad weather. If you’re riding and the weather turns bad, be careful. 

Practice driving in windy and rainy conditions; without putting yourself, and other drivers, at risk.



Remember, the road is the most slick when the rain first begins. As the rain continues, and washes oil from the road, conditions will be less slick; but a wet road is always less safe than a dry surface.

Keep your motorcycle tuned up. Regular maintenance heads off potential problems. 

Check tire pressure before riding.



Check brake light and turn signals.



Check the cables for kinks and stiffness.

3

4

Beach Safety BY: HM3(FMF/SW) Cody Beeson USNH Yokosuka—Health Promotion Retrieved From: Navy Marine Corps Public Health Center (n.d.). July- Safety Retrieved From: http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmcphc/health-promotion/Pages/hp-toolbox-july.aspx

Protect your skin: Sunlight contains two kinds of UV rays — UVA increases the risk of skin cancer, skin aging, and other skin diseases. UVB causes sunburn and can lead to skin cancer. Limit the amount of direct sunlight you receive between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and wear a sunscreen with a sun protection factor containing a high rating such as 15.

Drink plenty of water regularly and often even if you do not feel thirsty.

Your body needs water to keep cool. Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine in them. They can make you feel good briefly but make the heat's effects on your body worse. This is especially true with beer, which dehydrates the body.

4

Watch for signs of heat stroke: Heat stroke is life-threatening. The victim's temperature control system, which produces sweating to cool the body, stops working. The body temperature can rise so high that brain damage and death may result if the body is not cooled quickly. Signals include hot, red, and dry skin; changes in consciousness, rapid, weak pulse, and rapid, shallow breathing. Call 9-1-1 or your local EMS number. Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool the body by wrapping wet sheets around the body and fan it. If you have ice packs or cold packs, place them on each of the victim's wrists and ankles, in the armpits and on the neck to cool the large blood vessels. Watch for signals of breathing problems and make sure the airway is clear. Keep the person lying down.

5

Beach Safety Cont.

BY: HM3(FMF/SW) Cody Beeson USNH Yokosuka—Health Promotion Retrieved From: Navy Marine Corps Public Health Center (n.d.). July- Safety Retrieved From: http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmcphc/health-promotion/Pages/hp-toolbox-july.aspx

Wear eye protection: Sunglasses are like sunscreen for your eyes and protect against damage that can occur from UV rays. Be sure to wear sunglasses with labels that indicate that they absorb at least 90 percent of UV sunlight.

Wear foot protection: Many times, people's feet can get burned from the sand or cut from glass in the sand.

Spinal Injury Prevention Don't dive headfirst into any unknown water.

Remember, the beach ocean floor may change its shape constantly. In shallow water, don't dive headfirst towards the bottom into oncoming waves. In shallow water, don't stand with your back to the waves.

Don't jump or dive from a cliff, pier, jetty or bridge. Avoid bodysurfing, body boarding or surfing straight "over the falls."

Ride the shoulder. During a body board or surfing "wipe out," try to keeps your hands out in front of you. Don't dive straight to the bottom. While bodysurfing, always keep at least one arm out in front of you to protect your head and neck.

Don't swim near piers or breakwaters. The currents here may be very strong, even for the best of swimmers. Stay clear of boats. They5 take time to change direction, and they may not even see you. Swim parallel to the shore. If you swim out too far, you may be too tired to swim back. Open water is usually much colder than a pool, so don't swim out too far.

6

6

7

7

8

8

9

    9

Health Fitness Assessments Basic Nutrition Tobacco Cessation Weight Management

   

Outreaches ShipShape Crews Into Shape Health Challenges

10

Meet The Staff

10From left to right: HM3 Cody Beeson, Mrs. Mary Cobb (Secretary), Mrs. Ivette Moore (Health Promotion Director),

HN Austin Bennett